Cross the Pyrenees.Begin the French Way.
Walk 70 km over 7 days / 6 nights in carefully selected guesthouses and 2 to 4 star hotels.
Discover the journeyWalk the first 70 km (43 miles) of the French Way from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona, crossing the Pyrenees through some of the route’s most dramatic scenery. Follow mountain paths to Roncesvalles before continuing through the wooded valleys and traditional villages of Navarra. Carefully paced stages allow time to enjoy the landscape and historic places along the way, ending in Pamplona, a city closely associated with Ernest Hemingway. Walk independently, with welcoming guesthouses and carefully selected 2 to 4 star hotels, daily luggage transfers and trusted local support. Premium accommodation upgrades can be arranged where the route and availability allow.
Share your dates and priorities, and we will shape the next step with you.
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From €1,080 per traveler
Starting price. Subject to availability and final confirmation.
“Every hotel was welcoming and comfortable and just what we needed. Our luggage was always at the new location and the entire trip was seamless.”
Why this Camino
This section from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona offers some of the French Way's most dramatic scenery. Follow mountain paths to Roncesvalles before continuing through the wooded valleys and traditional villages of Navarra.
Journey highlights
Cross the Pyrenees from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles
Finish in Pamplona, a historic Camino city closely associated with Ernest Hemingway
Walk independently with daily luggage transfers and trusted local supportChoose this journey if…
This section is well suited to travelers who want to begin in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, take on the route’s most famous mountain crossing and finish with time to enjoy Pamplona.
Consider another journey if…
Explore our longer French Way journeys, including routes that finish in Santiago and meet the requirements for the Compostela.
The experience
This is a self-guided journey, allowing you to experience a section of the French Way at the rhythm that suits you best. Daily stages are carefully balanced, with time to rest, explore and connect with the remarkable places you pass through. There is no set walking schedule—you decide when to start, where to pause and how to enjoy each day on the Camino.
Stay in welcoming guesthouses and carefully selected 2 to 4 star hotels, chosen for their character, comfort and location. Each main part of the journey includes an exceptional historic stay, perhaps in a Parador, medieval monastery or converted palace. Where your accommodation is not directly on the Camino, the necessary transfers are included.
A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Dinners are not included, giving you the freedom to choose between your accommodation and local restaurants and to discover the regional cuisine along the route. Please advise us of dietary requirements in advance so we can inform the accommodations and recommend suitable options.
A clear picture of the walking, the terrain and how to reach the start of your Camino.
Four walking stages range from 12 to 22 kilometers, beginning with the Pyrenean crossing and continuing through Navarra to Pamplona.
Mountain paths, woodland tracks, country lanes and paved village sections. The Pyrenean stages include sustained climbing and descending.
Regular walking before departure is the best preparation. Build gradually toward walking on successive days and test the footwear, daypack and clothing you plan to bring.
Via Biarritz: Fly to Biarritz, then continue to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port by rail, taxi or private transfer.
Via Madrid: Fly from Madrid to Pamplona or travel from Madrid by train, then continue to Saint-Jean by bus, taxi or private transfer.
Your journey ends after breakfast in Pamplona. Pamplona Airport has flights to Madrid; you can also continue to Madrid by train or bus, or travel to Bilbao by bus or private transfer.
We can advise on the most suitable option for your plans and quote a private transfer where available.
Price & extras
Starting price. Subject to availability and final confirmation.
Classic journeys use carefully selected guesthouses and 2 to 4 star hotels with private bathrooms. Breakfast is included with each hotel night.
Explore guided visits, day tours and activities that can be added to your Camino.
Inclusions
Itinerary
70 kilometers from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona.
The most famous of all Caminos to Santiago de Compostela, the French Way, starts in the historic town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port just before the Spanish border. And what a place to start: the narrow and steep cobblestone streets of St-Jean and the old bridges crossing the Nive River make it one of the prettiest villages in France! As the ascent of the Pyrenees mountain range, the natural border between France and Spain, is long and trying, we have split it into two days with transfers from the Virgin of Orisson. So you will enjoy two nights in this amazing setting!
Today your Camino begins. Leave Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port through the Notre-Dame Gate, cross the River Nive and take your first steps toward Santiago de Compostela. The climb to the Virgin of Orisson gains approximately 950 m over 12 km. Take your time and enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery before your included transfer returns you to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port for a second night.
After a short transfer back to the Virgin of Orisson, continue your journey along the “Route Napoléon”, the mountain path used by the French Emperor to bring his troops into Spain in the 19th century. The Camino will take you uphill for another 10 km, until you reach the Col de Lepoeder at 1,450 m altitude, followed by a steep descent through magnificent beech woods to the monastery of Roncesvalles.
You begin at approximately 950 m altitude, while Zubiri lies much lower, so today’s route includes considerable descent as well as several short climbs. Your first stop is Burguete, the village where Ernest Hemingway went fishing in his novel “The Sun Also Rises”. You are walking through Esteríbar, the Valley of the Hunters, a fertile and beautiful forested valley crossed over the centuries by Romans, Moors and French troops. Walking downhill is less strenuous than climbing, but it can be hard on the knees. Take it slowly and enjoy the peaceful surroundings as you reach Zubiri.
Today, the River Arga will lead you to Pamplona, one of Spain's greatest cities, and world famous for its Fiesta de San Fermín (a celebration involving the running of bulls and the theme of Hemingway's masterpiece "The Sun Also Rises"). If you enjoyed the movie The Way, you will need to stop by the beautiful Hotel Akerreta, 6 km out of Zubiri. Then, we recommend taking the Huarte Detour through Zabaldika to see the 13th century Church of San Esteban and ask the nuns to allow you to ring the bell to send your prayers out onto the valley.
You have accomplished this challenge and reached Pamplona, but there are still over 700 km left to reach Santiago de Compostela, the end of the Camino de Santiago and the resting place of the Apostle Saint James. We hope the first 68 km of the French Way have brought you whatever you were looking for and that it made you want to discover more of the Camino, Northern Spain and the Basque Country.
Reviews
Feedback from travelers whose journey is identified beneath their words.
“Every hotel was welcoming and comfortable and just what we needed. Our luggage was always at the new location and the entire trip was seamless.”
“My luggage arrived every single day… I could really enjoy my days and take in the entire experience without worrying about accommodations.”
“The attention to detail and the service provided once we were in Spain were above and beyond excellent.”
Frequently asked questions
Most accommodation costs are charged per room rather than per guest. When one traveler occupies a room alone, there is no second guest with whom to share that cost. The supplement covers the difference across the journey and reflects the limited availability of single rooms along the Camino.
No technical hiking experience is required for our walking tours. Regular preparation is important; review the daily distances in the itinerary and build gradually toward consecutive walking days.
One piece of luggage weighing up to 20 kg per person is transferred between accommodations each day, allowing you to travel with only what you need during the day.
Yes. We can add extra nights or arrange selected visits, transfers and Experiences according to availability. Tell us what you have in mind when you start planning.
How to book
We are here to take care of every detail.
Tell us your preferred travel dates, the number of people and any special requests.
We'll confirm availability and send you a personalized proposal.
To confirm your booking, a 50% non-refundable deposit is required.
We'll take care of the details. You just prepare for the journey!
Book
Tell us your preferred dates, who is traveling and anything that would make this journey feel right for you. Camino journeys require at least 30 days’ notice, and availability is confirmed only after we have reviewed your dates and arrangements.
A Camino specialist will review your plans personally.
Continue exploring
Compare another classic route, a gentler pace or a journey that continues beyond Santiago.
